1A showdown: Panthers top Tonopah, take over first place

Pahranagat Valley's Taylor Poulsen threw for three touchdowns in the final five minutes of the first half, helping the Panthers (8-0, 5-0 Class 1A Southern League) beat visiting Tonopah 50-33 to take sole possession of the league lead.

Poulsen hooked up with Kale Leavitt for touchdowns of 9 and 34 yards, then found Brady Whipple for an 18-yard score with 16 seconds left in the half, giving Pahranagat Valley a 30-6 halftime lead.

Poulsen, who also ran for a touchdown, threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Adrian Eggert in the third quarter. Pahranagat Valley also got a punt return touchdown from Leavitt, and Whipple scored on a 20-yard run in the fourth. Whipple finished with 143 yards on 20 carries.

Scott Thibodeaux threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 125 yards, including a 5-yard TD, for Tonopah (5-3, 4-1). Denver Otteson caught TD passes of 20 and 15 yards, and Jeff Blackburn caught a 3-yarder.